Girl, 19, discovers long-lost sister during sports game after teammate pointed out likeness in real-life Parent Trap

A SCHOOLGIRL has revealed how she discovered her long-lost sister after playing against her in a softball game.

Samantha Rensvold, 19, was competing in a Montana tournament when a teammate pointed out a startling likeness between her and 18-year-old Kyann Dean.

Samantha, who was adopted as a baby, knew she had another biological sister – but had no idea how to find her.

Closed adoption records meant the true identity of her sister was sealed – and so the teen had no idea what she looked like or where she lived.

But when Samantha played against her sibling in Belgrade last August it was like the Parent Trap film had fulfilled itself in real-life.

In the film two separated sisters find one another at a summer camp.

She recounted the shock discovery to People, saying: “I hadn’t seen her close up yet when my teammate was pointing out to me.

“I was like, ‘there’s no way that this would happen to me right now’.” 

Disbelieving at first, Samantha ignored the similarity – until her mum suggested they check the list of names in the tournament.

When the mum read Kyann’s name she knew it must be her daughter’s long-lost sister.

Samantha said: “My mum knew that that’s what my birth mum named her.. So my mom was like, ‘that has to be your sister.

“That’s not a coincidence’.”

The mum approached Kyann’s family at a following softball game and swapped details over the birth of the girls – which was in the same hospital.

The name of the biological mother also matched.

The sisters laughed and cried when they finally met one another for the first time in a moment Samantha’s mum described as a real-life Parent Trap.

Samantha’s mum said: “We were just freaking out. We were in tears. It was like, ‘Oh my God’”.

The momentous meeting was exciting for the girls – but also overwhelming, said Samantha.

She added: “It’s like we didn’t know what to feel because you’ve waited your whole lives for this moment.”

Samantha was taken in by the Rensvold family after her biological mum, then aged 19, and her biological dad, then aged 17, put her up for adoption.

Around a year later, the young parents had another child – Kyann – who they also gave up for adoption.

Samantha grew up in Polson, Montana while her sister grew up 400 miles away in Dean, Montana.

Remarkably, Samantha only found out about the existence of her sister after a third sibling – her biological brother – tracked down her family.

Even though the sisters did not grow up together, they share hobbies and even the same “little giggle” according to Samantha.

She said: “We both played volleyball in high school and we were actually both number 6, and we played the same position.”

She added: “When I would talk to people about my situation with my biological family, I’d always have to explain ‘I have a sister.’

“But now it’s so nice to be able to put a face to her and to meet her, hang out with her. It doesn’t leave any doubt or wonder in my mind.”